Cut-out switch



Patented Dec. 31, 1940 CUT-OUT SWITCH Norman D. Benson, Iron Mountain,Mich.

Original application June 8, 1939, Serial No.

278,155. Divided and this'application February 14, 1940, Serial No.318,933

Claims. ((1200-59) This invention relates to vehicle direction signalsand is a division of my copending application, Serial No. 278,155, filedJune 8, 1939.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved switch structurefor use with a vehicle direction signal system for closing an electriccircuitto a number of signal devices mounted on the vehicle upon changein direction of the vehicle.

an improved circuit making and breaking means closed switch structurewhich is adapted to be interposed in a second signal circuit and whichis adapted to break the second signal circuit when the vehicle returnsto a straight or normal position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a normally closedswitch structure adapted to be interposed in an automatically operablesignal circuit which is adapted to maintain the signal circuit closedduring the change-in direction of the vehicle but which upon return ofthe vehicle to a normal or a straight position, is adapted tomomentarilybreak the automatic signal system and to thereafter close thecircuit to the automatic signal system.

To the above objectsand to others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andarrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to andillustrated in the I accompanying drawing wherein is shown an embodimentof this invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variationsand modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing:

' Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away and insection of a combination switch structure constructed according to anembodiment of this invention. I

Figure 2 is a sectional view partly broken away and partly diagrammatictaken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Another object of thisinvention is to provide connector 2 l.

3'3 of Figure 1 and also showing diagrammatically the connections of theswitch structure embodied in this figure.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44of Figure 3. 5

Figure '5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line5-5 of Figure 4.

. Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally ahousing which is adapted to be fixedly secured to a selected part of themotor 10 vehicle-structure. The housing I0 comprises a cup shaped bodyhaving a boss or bearing I2 provided with a flange I3 which is fixed byfastening devices I4 to one end of the cup shaped member IL. Theopposite end of the cup shaped 15 member II is provided with a flange I5and a closure plate I6 is adapted to be secured in any suitable mannerto the flange I5 so as to close the housing II].

A shaft I 1 is journalled through the bearing or boss I2 and one end ofan operating arm I8 is secured to the shaft H. The closure plate I6 isalso-provided with a blind bearing I2 in which the shaft I1 is alsojournalled. The arm I8 preferably is provided with a pair of clampingmembers I9 which are secured by a tensioning bolt 20 about the shaft H.A connector 2| is secured to a reduced portion 22 of the shaft I8 andone end of a link 23 is pivotally secured as at 24 to the A clamp 25 isadjustably mounted on atie rod 26 forming part of the steeringmechanism'and the clamp 25 is provided with a pair of cars 21' betweenwhich the opposite end of the link .23 engages. A pivot member 28engages )35 through the ears 21 and through the opposite end of the link23 is held against endwise movement by means of a cotter pin 29.

An insulated disc 30 is fixed to the shaft I! in the housing member I Iand is provided on the periphery thereof with a pair of arcuate contacts3| and 32. The contacts 3I and 32 have their confronting ends spacedapart, and these contacts comprise bridging contacts as will behereinafter described. A wiper 33 is disposed within the housing memberI I and yieldably engages the contact 3I. The wiper 33 is secured to thehousing member II by means of a terminal bolt 34 which is insulated fromthe housingll by insulating members 35 and 3B. The terminal 34 is 50connected by means of a conductor 31 to one side of an ignition switchstructure 38 and the other side of the switch structure 38 is connectedby a conductor 33 to a battery B. The battery B is grounded to the frameof the vehicle by means of 55 a conductor 48. A second wiper 4| isdisposed within the housing member spaced from the wiper 33 and issecured to the housing H by means of a terminal bolt 42. The bolt 42 isinsulat'ed from the housing I by means of insulating members 43 and 44.A pair of signal devices 45 and 46 are disposed at one side of thevehicle, the signal devices 45 being positioned at the front of thevehicle and the signal device 46 being positioned at the rear of thevehicle. The two signal devices 45 and 46 have one side thereof groundedby means of conductors 41 and 48, respectively, and a conductor 49connects the opposite sides of these signal devices together. Aconductor 58 is connected at one end to the conductor 49 and at theopposite end to the terminal 42. In this manner with the ignition switchon or closed when the bridging contact 3| engages the two wipers 33 and4|, a circuit will be completed to the two signal devices 45 and 46 fromthe switch 38, conductor 31, terminal 34, wiper 33, contact 3|, wiper4|, terminal 42, conductor 58, and conductor 49.

A second pair of wipers 5| and 52 are mounted within the housing memberII and are adapted to engage the arcuate contact or bridging member 32.The wiper 5| is secured to the housing member H by a terminal bolt 53which is insulated from the housing member and the wiper 52 is securedto the housing member II by a terminal bolt 54 which is also insulatedfrom the housing member The terminal 53 is connected to the conductor 31and the terminal 54 is connected by means of a conductor 55 to aconductor 56. The conductor 56 connects a pair of front and rear signaldevices 51 and 58, respectively, together. The signal device 51 has oneside thereof grounded by means of a conductor 59 and the signal device58 has one side thereof grounded by means of a conductor 68. In Figures3, 4, and 5, there is disclosed a second switch structure which ismounted within the housing l8 and which is adapted to be interposed inthe automatic signal circuit embodied in my oo- 45 pending applicationfiled of even date herewith and also my copending application, SerialNo; 278,155.

A pair of spaced apart contacts BI and 62 are mounted within the housingmember II and the contact 6| is provided with a base plate 63 throughwhich a terminal bolt 64 engages. The plate 63 and the bolt 64 areinsulated from the housing member II by insulating members 65 and 66,respectively. The contact member 62 is provided with a base plate 61through which a terminal bolt 68 engages and the plate 67 is insulatedfrom the housing member by means of an insulating member 69. The bolt 68is insulated from the housing member by an insulating member 18.

- A bridging contact H is disposed in laterally spaced relation to thecontacts 6| and 62 and includes a stem or support 12 which is fixed to abase plate 13 insulated from the housing member H by an insulating strip14. The base plate 63 is insulated from the base plate 13 by theinsulating member 65. Likewise the base plate 61 is insulated from thebase plate 13 by the insulating member 89. The terminal bolt 64 engagesthrough the base plate 63 and through an oversize or clearance hole inthe base plate 13 and is insulated from the housing member I by theinsulating member 66 and holds the contact member 6| and one end of thebridging contact member within the housing member ll. Likewise theterminal bolt 68 engages through the base plate 69 and through anoversize or clearance hole in the base plate 13 and is insulated fromthe housing member II by the insulating member 18 and holds the otherend of the bridging member II and contact 62 in housing member The bolts64 and 68 engage through the base plate 13 so as to hold the plate 13tightly within the housing member A rock arm 15 is disposed within thehousing member II and is provided with a bifurcated part 16 whichengages between a pair of ears 1! carried by a base block 18. The block18 is fixed to the interior of the housing member H by a fasteningdevice 19. The housing member i has an elongated hole for the fasteningdevice or screw 19, making the block l8 adjustable. The rock lever 15 ispivotally mounted between the ears 1! by means of a pivot member 88. Thefree end of the rock arm 15 is provided with a wiper 8| which isinsulated from the arm 15 by an insulating member 82. The wiper 8|engages normally between the contact 6| and the bridging contact 1|. Adog 83 is pivotally mounted between the bifurcated part 18 of the arm 15being pivotally mounted on a pin or pivot 84 engaging between thebifurcations of the arm 15. The rock lever 15 is provided with a pair ofextensions or stop members 85 which are adapted to engage the block 18so as to limit the rocking or swinging movement of the arm 15 in onedirection. A spring 86 is connected at one end to the dog 83 and at theother end engages a pin 8'! carried by the block 18. The spring 86normally urges the arm 15 inwardly with respect to the housing memberand also maintains the inner end portion of the dog 83 in engagementwith the inner end of the bifurcated part 16 of the arm 15. A secondrock arm 88 is mounted within the housing member and is constructed inevery detail similar to the arm 15. The rock arm 88 is provided with abifurcated-part 89 engaging between a pair of spaced apart ears 98carried by a block 9| which is fixed by a fastening device 92 to theinterior of the housing member member I has an elongated hole for thefastening device or screw 92 which holds the block 9| to the interior ofthe housing member The block 9| and the block 18 are adjustable in aclock and counter clockwise direction. The arm 88 is pivotally mountedon a pivot member 93 engaging through the bifurcated part 89 and throughthe ears 98. The arm 88 is also provided with a pair of extensions orstop members 94 which are adapted to engage the block 9| so as to limitthe inward swinging movement of the arm 88.

The free end of the rock arm 88 is provided with a wiper 95 engagingbetween the contacts 62 and II and the wiper 95 is insulated from thearm 88 by an insulating member 98. A pivoted dog 91 is rockably mountedbetween the bifurcations 89 of the arm 88 and one end of a spring 98 isconnected to the dog 91. The opposite end of the spring 98 is mounted ona pin 99 carried by the block 9|. 7

A lever tripping member I88 is carried by a sleeve or bushing |8| whichis fixed by means of a pin or a key I82 to the shaft H. The trippingmember I88 is associated with the dog 83 and is adapted upon movement ina counterclockwise direction to rock the dog 83 on the pivot 84 withoutrocking movement'of the rock lever 15. After the tripping member I88 hasmoved past the inner end portion of the dog-83 The housing designated asI09.

and the rotation of the shaft I1 is reversed, the reversed movement ofthe tripping member I00 will cause the tripping member I00 to engage thefree end of the dog 83 and effect rocking of the lever I5 withoutrocking of the dog 83 relative to the lever I5. Rocking of the lever I5outwardly by engagement of the tripping member I00 with the dog 83 willcause the wiper 8| to be moved out of engagement with the contacts GIand 'II so as to thereby break an electric circuit within which thesecontacts are interposed. A second tripping member I03 is carried by thebushing or sleeve I0| and is associated with the dog 91 and the lever88. The operation of the tripping member I03 relative to the dog 81 issimilar in every detail to the operation of the tripping member I00relative to the dog 83 except that the tripping member I03 operatesreversely from the tripping member I00.

The terminal 64' is connected by means of a conductor I04 to an ignitionswitch structure I05 which is connected to a battery I08 having one sidethereof grounded as by a conductor I01. The terminal 68 is connected toone end of a conductor I08 and the other end of the conductor I08 isconnected to a switch structure generally The switch structure I09 is anelectro-magnetic switch structure of the type wherein the switch ismanually'moved to a sircuit closing position and is held in the circuitclosing position by means of an electro-magnet H0. The details of theswitch structure I09 and the electro-magnet 0 with its connections in avehicle lighting system'are more specifically deescribed in my copendingapplication filed of even date herewith. The switch structure I09 is ofthe type which is normally biased to a circuit breaking position so thatwhen the circuit is broken to the coil or electro-magnet N0, the switchstructure will be automatically moved to a circuit breaking position.

In the use and operation of this switch structure, the terminals 34 and53 are connected together by means of the conductor 31, and are alsoconnected to one side of a vehicle signal circuit embodying the signaldevices 45, 46, 51, and 58. The terminals 42 and 54 are connected to theconductors 49 and 56 by the conductors and 55, respectively. During thenormal operation of the vehicle, the operating arm I0 will be disposedin the position shown in Figure 2 wherein the bridging contacts 3| and32 engage only the wipers 33 and 5!, respectively. However, upon turningof the vehicle to the right which is effected by movement of the tie rod28 to the left as viewed in Figure 2, the contact carrying member 30will rotate in a counterclockwise direction so as to engage the bridgingcontact 3| with the two wipes 33 and 4|. At this time the circuit to thefront and rear signal devices 45 and 46 will be closed from the switch38, conductor 31, terminal 34, wiper 33, contact 3|, wiper 4|, terminal42, conductor 50 and conductor 49, signal lights 45 and 46, conductors41 and 31 to ground.

Where it is desired to signal a proposed change in the direction ofvehicle before the change actually occurs, the electro-magnetic switchstructure I09 is moved to the selected circuit closing position so as toclose the electric circuits to the desired signal device which may beincorporated with the signal devices 45, 48, 51 and 58. The circuit tothe selected signal devices will remain closed until the turn or changein direction has been completed whereupon one of the II therebymomentarily breaking'the electric cirtripping members I00 or I03 willrock its associated wiper carrying arm to a circuit breaking position.Where the vehicle turns to the right, the tripping member I00 willstrike the dog 83 and rock this dog as on the pivot 84 without 5movement of the rock lever I5. The turn of the vehicle is such as tocarry the tripping member I00 past the free end of the dog 83 so thatwhen the vehicle returns to a normal or a straight position, this returnmovement will cause the shaft H to rotate clockwise and the trippingmember I00 will contact with the dog 83. On the return movement of thetripping member I00, the contact of the tripping member I00 with the dog83 v, will effect outward swinging of the wiper carry- 15 ing arm I5 toa circuit breaking position without movement of the dog 83 relative tothe arm I5. Outward rocking of the lever 15 will swing the wiper 8| outfrom between the contacts 8| and cuit to the switch structure I09. Thismomentary breaking of the circuit to the switch structum-I09 willde-energize the electro-magnet H0 and thus permit the switch structureI09 to return under the action of its return spring to a circuitbreaking position. After the tripping member I00 returns to the positionshown in Figure 3, the spring 86 will return the wiper 8| to a circuitclosing position which is the position shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5.

The operation of the rock lever 88 is reverse from that of the rocklever I5 and is effected upon turning of the vehicle to the left.

What I claim is:

1. A switch comprising an operating shaft, a 35 housing on said shaft, apair of spaced apart contacts carried by said housing, a rock arm, meanspivotally mounting said arm in said housing, a wiper carried by said armengaging bet-weensaid contacts, a dog pivotally carried by said arm, a40 spring connected at one end to said dog and at the other end to afixed part of the housing and constantly urging said arm to maintainsaid Wiper to circuit closing position while holding said dog inoperative position, and a dog tripping meme 45 her carried by said shaftand operable upon rotation of said shaft in one direction toengage saiddog to thereby rock said arm to circuit breaking position.

2. A switch for connection to the steering 5o mechanism of a vehiclecomprising a stationary housing, an operating shaft journalled in saidhousing, means connecting said shaft to the steering mechanism, a pairof spaced contacts carried by said housing, a bridging contact spacedlaterally from said pair of contacts; a pair of rock arms, meansrockably supporting said arms in said housing with the free ends thereofin con fronting relation and between said contacts, a wiper carried byeach arm engaging between one of said pair of contacts and said bridgingcontact, a dog pivotally carried by each arm, a spring engaging a dogand said housing yieldably holding a wiper in operative position, and apair of tripping members fixed to said shaft, rotation of said shaft inone direction effecting contact between one tripping member and anassociated dog without rocking of the arm to which said associated dogis pivotally secured, rotation of said shaft in the opposite directionefiecting contact between said one tripping member and associated dogaccompanied by rocking of an arm to thereby move a. wiper into circuitbreaking position.

3. A switch for connection to the steering mechanism of a vehiclecomprising a stationary 75 housing, anoperating shaftjournalled in saidhousing,'means connecting said shaft to the steering mechanism, a pairof spaced contacts carried by said housing, a bridging contact space-dlaterally from said pair of contacts, a pair of rock arms each having abifurcated part, means pivotally mounting said arms in said housing withthe free ends thereof in confronting relation and between said contacts,a wiper carried by each arm engaging one of said pair of contacts andsaid bridging contact, a dog pivotally engaging between the bifurcatedpart of an arm, a spring engaging a dog and'said housing yieldablyholding a wiper in operative position, and

' a pair of tripping members fixed to said shaft,

rotation of said shaft in one direction effecting contact between onetripping member and an associated dog without rocking of the arms towhich said associated dog is pivotally secured, rotation of said shaftin the opposite direction effecting contact between said one trippingmember and associated dog accompanied by rocking of an arm to therebymove a wiper into circuit breaking position. 7

4. A switch for connection to the steering mechanism of a vehiclecomprising a stationary housing, an operating shaft journalled in saidhousing, means connecting said shaft to the steering mechanism, a pairof spaced contacts carried by said housing, a bridging contact spacedlaterally from said pair of contacts, a' pair of rock arms each having abifurcated part, means pivotally mounting said arms in said housing withthe free ends thereof in confronting relation and between said contacts,a-wiper carried by each arm engaging one of said pair of contacts andsaid bridging contact, a dog pivotally engaging between the bifurcatedpart of an arm, stop means carried by each arm limiting the swing- 40ing movement thereof in one direction, a spring engaging a dog and saidhousing yieldably holding a Wiper in operative position, and a pair oftripping members fixed to said shaft, rotation of said shaft in onedirection effecting contact between one tripping member and anassociated dog without rocking of the arms to which said associated dogis pivotally secured, rotation of said shaft in the opposite directioneffecting contact between said one tripping member and associated dogaccompanied by rocking of an arm to thereby move a wiper into circuitbreaking position.

5. A switch for connection to the steering mechanism of a vehiclecomprising a housing, an operating shaft journalled in said housing,means connecting said shaft to the steering mechanism, a pair of spacedcontacts carried by said housing, a bridging contact spaced laterallyfrom said pair of contacts, a pair of rock arms each having a bifurcatedpart, a pair of blocks fixed in said housing, a pair of ears carried byeach block, means pivotally mounting a bifurcated part between saidears, the free ends of said arms engaging between said contacts, a wipercarried by and insulated from each arm and engaging between one of saidpair of contacts and said bridging contact, a dog pivotally engagingbetween the bifurcated part of an arm, stop means carried by each armengaging a block to limit the swinging movement thereof in onedirection, a spring engaging a dog and said housing yieldably holding awiper in operative position, and a pair of tripping members fixed tosaid shaft, rotation of said shaft in one direction effecting contactbetween one tripping member and an associated dog without rocking of thearms to which said associated dog is pivotally secured, rotation of saidshaft in the opposite direction effecting contact between said onetripping member and associated dog accompanied by rocking of an arm tothereby move a wiper into circuit breaking position.

NORMAN D. BENSON.

